The Road to Qatar

October 9–24, 2009
Dupree Theater
Irving Arts Center

The World Premiere of a True New Musical

Book & Lyrics by Stephen Cole
Music by David Krane

Produced by the Lyric Stage in Dallas, voted Best New Musical 2010 by the Dallas/Ft. Worth Critics, followed by the Off-Broadway premiere at the York Theatre in February, 2011.

What happens when two American musical theatre writers are commissioned by the Emir of Qatar to create the first American musical to premiere in the Middle East? Five years ago, Stephen Cole & David Krane each received an email that read: "We want you write musical. How much?"

Thus began a truly unbelievable journey that introduced the two 'short Jews' to an alien world of camels, 'safari' rides in the desert, and Middle Eastern theatrical producers. During the course of this madcap adventure, Stephen & David starred in their own personal Bob Hope-Bing Crosby 'road picture' that took them to Dubai, London, Bratislava, and ultimately to Qatar, where they presented an epic original musical for the Emir and 1000 of his closest friends. When they returned, they had no other choice but to write their story in the only way they knew how: AS A MUSICAL!!

The names have been changed to protect the innocent... but the story is TOTALLY TRUE!!!

Jason Kane as Tevye. Photo: Michael C. Foster

The Road to Qatar: Lawson Taitte review

A Bubbly Tour of Creating a Musical…

Autobiographical ‘Road to Qatar’ proves a bubbly tour of creating a musical… In recent years, musicals about writing musicals have become a dime a dozen. But few are as funny, as much sheer fun, as The Road to Qatar. [ Unfortunately the rest of this review is not available since its online source at Dallas Morning News has been removed. ]

The Road to Qatar: Elaine Liner review

Sheik-down

Sheik-down: It’s all true in Lyric Stage’s “The Road to Qatar,” a good show about a bad show. [ The rest of this review is not available since its online source at Dallas Observer has been removed. ]

The Road to Qatar: Arnold Wayne Jones review

The Grand Oil Opry

The grand oil opry: ‘Qatar’ makes the Middle East funny…
Composer David Krane’s bouncy score and librettist Stephen Cole’s clever lyrics (“Dubai Bye Birdie” — genius) is an effervescent delight. Watching it rattle-and-hummus along is a breezy joy. [ Unfortunately the rest of this review is not available since its online source at Dallas Voice has been removed. ]

The Road to Qatar: Alexandra Bonifield review

Singing, Dancing in the Desert

Singing, Dancing in the Desert… Writer Stephen Cole and composer David Krane’s wacky re-telling of their most un-likely commissioning, The Road to Qatar, is an enchanting and hilarious piece of musical theater. [ The rest of this review is not available since its online source at Renegade Bus has been removed. ]

The Road to Qatar: Mary L. Clark review

A Wacky, Pun-filled Romp

A wacky, pun-filled romp… For Lyric Stage, The Road to Qatar leads
to fun, frivolity, and the freedom to laugh out loud. [ The rest of this review is not available since its online source at Pegasus News has been removed. ]